Published: November 04, 2009 12:31 am      

Rams girls soccer moves onto championship game

JOHNSTOWN — Richland’s girls soccer team started fast and finished strong on Tuesday in a 3-1 victory over Forest Hills in a District 6 Class AA semifinal.

The top-seeded Rams will get a chance to defend their district championship Thursday night against No. 2 Bishop McCort.

Richland coach Nathan Gironda, who called last week’s quarterfinal victory over Westmont his team’s worst effort of the season, was more impressed with how the Rams played against Forest Hills.

“(Tuesday) was as good as we’ve looked all year,” he said. “We finished, played the field and got a great effort from everyone. We were concerned about the wind, but we got out to a fast start, and I was pleased about that. I told them they had to control the game on the field.”

Richland dominated the play through the opening moments of the game. Following a solid scoring opportunity by Maura Koshute, teammate Savanna Wingard opened the scoring with 33:26 left in the first half.

At 16:26 of the first half, Koshute found the back of the net on a point blank shot and Richland not only held the lead but commanded play on the field.

With a sprint in their step, the Rams strikers benefited from solid play from their midfielders and stoppers, including an outstanding effort from Elly Colvin, a stopper who at times seemed to maintain her team’s possession of the ball with efforts on both ends of the field.

Richland extended its lead at 32:19 of the second as Colvin left footed the third goal of the game.

“Elly is as good of a player as you are going to see her in the region. She is in control of the field no matter where she is,’’ Gironda said. “As a team (Tuesday night), we dictated and made them react to us.”

Forest Hills rallied late in the contest. Briana Kostan scored with 8:58 remaining in the contest and followed with a few scoring opportunities late in the second half.

“We just didn’t get the ball in the offensive side too much, Forest Hills coach Donna Gallaher said.

The Rangers (13-7) recorded the first winning season in school history just a year after going 2-15. They started 1-4 this season before finding their footing.

“I thought the season as a whole was great for the program,” Gallaher said. “The seniors have been through a lot. They’ve gone through four coaches in four years. For them to play like they did this year is fantastic.”

Forest Hills started five freshen, and Gallaher hopes it is the start of something promising for the Rangers.

“Our future looks bright,” she said. “I think the Forest Hills girls soccer program is finally turning the corner. I’m staying with the program and hope it will turn the corner.”

The Rams look ahead to Bishop McCort, a team they lost to and tied earlier this season.

Due to points recorded in the standings though Richland earned the No. 1 seed in the District 6 tournament.